| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.40, 27.11.03, p28 |
| Publication Date | 27/11/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Martin Banks Date: 27/11/03 THE European Commission has signalled that it will get tough with member states that drag their feet on implementing laws aimed at helping disabled people get jobs. The Equal Treatment in Employment directive should be introduced into national law by the end of this year, but only three member states are likely to meet the deadline. This has prompted Anna Diamantopoulou, the employment and social affairs commissioner, to issue a warning to the other 12 members. Speaking in Strasbourg at the European Parliament's plenary last week, she said she recognized that transposing the directive would require major changes and had "huge" implications for employers. But, she warned, the Commission "will not hesitate to launch infringement proceedings against member states which have either failed to notify transposition or have incorrectly transposed the directive". The directive coincides with the 2003 European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD), which Diamantopoulou hailed as a great success. "So far, the Year has achieved its objectives of raising awareness of rights of people with disabilities," she said. But several members, including UK Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, a campaigner for disabled rights, disagreed. Lynne said: "The Year has raised the awareness that disabled people have rights but is depressingly weak on positive outcomes." Warning that the EYPD was in danger of being written off as a "PR exercise", she added: "After a year of discussion, we could not be clearer about what the Commission and the governments of member states need to do, but then we were before the year began." However, she said Diamantopoulou could yet turn things round by ensuring that "the employment directive to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of disability in the workplace in each member state is fully implemented". |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs |
